MSE News: Santander credit or debit card user? You can now earn even more cashback

Former_MSE_Helen

Santander debit and credit card users can earn up to 15% cashback on spending from today ...

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Santander credit or debit card user? You can now earn even more cashback




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FLA27

Thanks, just seen this on MSE and I have now activated two offers. I probably won't use them this time but I would rather activate them and see them expire than spend money somewhere and realize too late that I could have earned cashback.

Must remember to keep checking every month.

muddlemand

But why didn't I hear this from Santander?

When I'm logged in, there's a link in the sidebar if I scroll down to the bottom ("retailer offers": 5% on Waitrose, with "NEW" across the corner of the link box). I haven't had any messages or emails about this and there's no announcement as you log in. I'd never have noticed this without MSE.

Consumerist

Same here. I suspect they're hoping existing customers will miss these offers but that won't stop them hyping it up as a "feature" to lure in new customers.

Don't forget this is Santander - worst for customer service for years. Only the 123 account seems to have changed its fortunes recently but bank leopards do not quickly change their spots.

colsten

Consumerist wrote: »

Same here. I suspect they're hoping existing customers will miss these offers but that won't stop them hyping it up as a "feature" to lure in new customers.

How are they going to "hype it" without existing customers noticing?

Consumerist wrote: »

Don't forget this is Santander - worst for customer service for years. Only the 123 account seems to have changed its fortunes recently but bank leopards do not quickly change their spots.

It's time the anti-Santander brigade got into 2014. The 123 current account is one of the UK's most popular accounts, even by MSE poll results.

colsten

muddlemand wrote: »

But why didn't I hear this from Santander?

When I'm logged in, there's a link in the sidebar if I scroll down to the bottom ("retailer offers": 5% on Waitrose, with "NEW" across the corner of the link box). I haven't had any messages or emails about this and there's no announcement as you log in. I'd never have noticed this without MSE.

Do you expect banks to tell you every time they add something to their website? And do you rely on MSE to tell you about new features and T&C changes on your bank account?

BTW, the offer has been talked about on the forum for a week: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5101330

zerog

colsten wrote: »

Do you expect banks to tell you every time they add something to their website?

Actually, yes, if I've opted in to marketing emails etc etc

This is a major addition, not a minor aesthetic fix.

And do you rely on MSE to tell you about new features and T&C changes on your bank account?

Nothing wrong with that, although people do need to take responsibility for themselves - but the bank needs to tell you if it could potentially be detrimental anyway

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Here's the already existing thread about Santander Retail Offers.

muddlemand

colsten wrote: »

The 123 current account is one of the UK's most popular accounts, even by MSE poll results.

Well, anecdotally: I've had a Santander account for about 4 years and the 123 for about 18 months. I did have a cluster of errors (mainly communication errors) last year, but not before or since, and they compensated me quite generously when I hadn't thought to ask for compensation - was only expecting explanation / apology. I may be the odd one out but when I switched to Santander, MSE was saying its customer service seemed to be turning a corner.

In fact I've had far more serious mistakes made (mainly around confidentiality) by Barclays, and in fewer months' experience of them, and they cleared up their mess far less well - in fact they didn't completely clear things up.

If I hadn't heard Santander's poor reputation, I wouldn't have that impression from my own experience. Mind you their website is pretty clunky and its recent refurb hasn't changed a thing in terms of user-friendliness, it'spurely cosmetic, for which they probably waste a fair bit of (our!) money on posh design consultants.

Consumerist

colsten wrote: »

. . . It's time the anti-Santander brigade got into 2014. The 123 current account is one of the UK's most popular accounts, even by MSE poll results.

Just because one account is attractive doesn't necessarily mean that customer service as a whole has improved. It is true that the 123 account has helped to lift the overall customer rating somewhat but I wouldn't say customer service has changed much.

muddlemand

colsten wrote: »

Do you expect banks to tell you every time they add something to their website? And do you rely on MSE to tell you about new features and T&C changes on your bank account?

BTW, the offer has been talked about on the forum for a week: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5101330

I rely on the bank to tell me about T&C changes, and they're legally required to which makes T&Cs a whole different thing. As for adding things, this is a feature added to the accounts, not only the website. It's very normal to have to click through a message during login that tells you about something new. Barclays told me about their equivalent...

And BTW, I don't hang out on these forums, I efficiently scan the weekly newsletter for what matters to me. I pop in here with the occasional question or helpful comment.

I suppose Santander forgetting to mention this new perk to its customers is an example of its famous poor customer service! :undecided